THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

[airlockedmods]

[As usual, the day begins at seven a.m.

Good morning, Champions.]

Comments

[misanthropicprinciple]

[In the morning, one might find oneself accosted by one of a pair of pigeons, who will coo insistently until someone checks out the little rolled-up playing card cylinder tied to her leg and finds the following message:



The garden's a happening spot to be today, apparently. So as not to break up any songfests, Junpei's taking willing pigeons aside one at a time to kit each out with her own message tube. As he works, he's humming something that might be familiar.

By afternoon he, Michi, and Tie have moved up to the second floor rest area, where he's... drawing shaky grids over equally shaky doodles? Huh.]

garden

[motherfucking_ghost]

[IT'S A JOYOUS DAY FOR SONGS OKAY

Also Junpei what are you doing. What are you doing.] We're not evolving the birds, Parker; they aren't Pokemon.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Are you sure about that, actually? I mean. Look at them.

[Michi flutters on over to perch on Church's shoulder, more adventurous than her buddy. Tie stays with Junpei as he outfits one of the ownerless pigeons with a tube.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Rub rub rub Michi's head. Good birb.] ...Just because they're pretty doesn't mean they're Pokemon, man. [but he's thinking about it]

[misanthropicprinciple]

They're space-colored. I bet they're Psychic. It'd explain how smart they are. There you are, little lady.

[He lets the new and improved Pigeon 2.0, now installed with instant messenger, off on her way.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

No, man, all they know sing, but it doesn't even put anyone to sleep.

...The hell are you doing anyway, making them carrier pigeons?

[misanthropicprinciple]

Pretty much?

[Michi coos and turns a little to show Church her new bling. So stylin'.]

I've been working on this for a few days now, but after yesterday... I figure it's helpful to have a communication system besides running and yelling. You know, since none of us have cell phones.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I dunno, I think running and yelling at the top of our lungs at least takes a little less time than unrolling some paper when a bird annoys you enough to read it.

No offense, little guy, I'm sure you're just fine as a carrier.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Well, yeah, speed was of the essence yesterday. But it was a damn mess, too, you know? Like, what if you, me, and, I dunno, Arianna got there before Nari could? Or her orders got misheard?
Cramped space like that, people panicking everywhere, we would've just gotten in the way.

The birds recognize people and names, so this way, we can send messages more discreetly to specific people. Alternatively--or in addition, really--we can also teach the birds to repeat emergency signals, if we can all agree on a few.

[Come on, Church. Praise him. He's a genius.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

...You're gonna send secret love notes to Yuuri. [Yes, this is what he chooses to get out of that.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

What? No! Why would I--

I don't need trained birds for that.

[motherfucking_ghost]

But you can do it with galaxy birds that can sing love songs at her--why wouldn't you do that?

[misanthropicprinciple]

That's so--! That's ridiculous. I'm not doing that. We haven't even... this isn't a romcom, Church.

garden

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna still doesn't properly have a bird, but she's ended up in the garden anyway (like most people apparently), and she stops to watch Junpei work.]

What are you doing?

[misanthropicprinciple]

Turning our tweet machines into a fast-flying message delivery system.

[He's so proud of himself.]

Functional and stylish.

[daughterofthemark]

Oh! Then they'll be carrying notes?

[Coo, replies someone she wasn't talking to.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[It's very coo, random pigeon citizen.]

That's the idea. Or really, really tiny items, I guess. I've got enough message tubes for everyone. You want?

[daughterofthemark]

Do you have one in my size?

[Is... she joking? She's joking, right?

Random Pigeon Citizen thinks she's probably joking.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei considers this, then very, very seriously, tries to balance one of the cylinders vertically on her head.]

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna holds very, very still.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[It still falls. Alas.]

No, looks like I'd need at least, like. Three more playing cards to make one big enough for you. You'll have to wait another day to realize your dreams of metamorphosing into a messenger pigeon, Arianna. My bad.

[daughterofthemark]

Oh...

[she's... actually disappointed?]

I shall have to rely on the pigeons after all.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Were you serious about wanting to be some kind of runner? Because the whole point of this is to make things a little more convenient for everyone, including you.

[daughterofthemark]

I... no, I became excited without thinking.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Well, do you want one for your bird instead? You have one, right?